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A Career Set in Motion: How Hartwick Mentorship Led Nate Benjamin ’20 to the Dallas Cowboys

Nate Benjamin ’20 arrived at Hartwick College, never expecting a football injury would shape his future. But an early-season setback sent him into the athletic training room of Heidi Hofbauer-Buzzy, Hartwick’s head athletic trainer, and introduced him to the profession that would ultimately lead him to the NFL.

“My first real experience came during football training camp of my first summer, basically a week into me being on campus,” Benjamin said. “I tore a ligament in my thumb during a practice and had to go see Heidi afterwards. Immediately, I could feel how much she cared, even if it wasn’t a significant injury. She exhausted all options in making sure I knew exactly what was going on and what we could do to get through it.”

Benjamin, a Vestal, N.Y. native, was a transfer student from Binghamton University.

“Hartwick College was an amazing experience,” he said. “I was a member of the football team and the inaugural indoor and outdoor track teams, so the team aspect was a huge part of my time at the Wick. I made great friends that I’m still close with to this day. Additionally, I was a resident advisor for a year and got to build connections with all the residential life staff and my residents. Hartwick gave me everything I could ask for from an undergrad experience.”
Before coming to Hartwick, Benjamin had never worked with an athletic trainer before.

Nate Benjamin '20

“Heidi was the person who introduced me to athletic training. I had never met an athletic trainer before I met her. Immediately, I knew that athletic training was what I wanted to do.”

Nate Benjamin ’20

Dallas Cowboys Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer

“Coming into Hartwick, I was undecided on my future career but not for very long. The way she handled medical care with her own no-nonsense attitude and handled it for so many student athletes was unbelievable and laid the foundation of not only what I wanted to do, but how I wanted to do it.”

Hofbauer-Buzzy later allowed Benjamin to shadow her and complete the observation hours required for graduate school. Now in the NFL, Benjamin reflects on how unique his Hartwick training was.

“Everywhere I’ve been, there has been a surplus of resources and hands available to make sure we can do our job to the best of our ability,” Benjamin said. “Being in these environments really made me realize how special Heidi was. For her to have so many athletes and a smaller pool of resources but still to perform at the level of these massive programs is incredibly respectable and shows how special a clinician and person she is.”

For Hofbauer-Buzzy, her approach is rooted in care.

Heidi Hofbauer-Buzzy, Hartwick College Head Athletic Trainer

“For me, it’s simple, I care deeply about being part of each athlete’s journey. When someone is injured, even if it seems minor, it can feel overwhelming to them. I want every athlete who walks into the athletic training room to feel supported, understood and make known we genuinely care about them.”

Heidi Hofbauer-Buzzy

Head Athletic Trainer

Hofbauer-Buzzy has mentored several students over her 31 years at Hartwick, but said Benjamin distinguished himself early.

“Yes, even at that time, it was clear Nate was going places,” she said. “He was incredibly curious, always asking thoughtful questions and eager to learn more. He had an outgoing personality that fits this profession so well, a great sense of humor, and, above all, he’s just a really great young man.”

After graduating from Hartwick with a bachelor’s degree in biology, Benjamin went on to earn his master’s degree in athletic training at the University of Delaware and a post-graduate certificate at the University of Kentucky. In May 2024, he joined the Dallas Cowboys as a graduate assistant athletic trainer. His welcome to the NFL moment came quickly.

Nate Benjamin offering water to Dallas Cowboy players on the field during a game

“I think my biggest welcome to the NFL moment was last season, my first season with the Cowboys, standing at the 50-yard line of AT&T Stadium during the national anthem before our first home game of the year,” Benjamin said. “The environment was crazy and it gave me a moment to reflect on how I got here.”

Outside of his role in sports medicine, Benjamin has also gained attention for an unexpected creative outlet, designing custom cleats for Cowboys players. What began as a hobby with one white pair of Nike cleats has grown into a steady side business, with 30 to 40 custom pairs completed in the last eight months, including designs worn by Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

Benjamin says his long-term goal is to stay in the NFL.

“I still feel like I haven’t truly accomplished my goal yet,” he said. “Even though I work in the NFL now, I think my goal has evolved to stay in this position as long as possible, and hopefully for the rest of my career. There’s nowhere I’d rather be and, eventually, I’d love to have some hardware to show for it.”

December 9, 2025
Alumni Spotlight, Spotlight

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